Review: Hysteria by Megan Miranda

Hysteria by Megan Miranda
Published: February 5, 2013 (Walker Children's)
Source: E-ARC from NetGalley
Rating: Squee-worthy

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Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can’t remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn’t charged. But Mallory still feels Brian’s presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her... or anything about her past. But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence -- to herself and others.

In another riveting tale of life and death, Megan Miranda’s masterful storytelling brings readers along for a ride to the edge of sanity and back again.

Memorable Quote

 Because it felt like we were starting right now.  Then I was so close I could feel his breath, coming a little too fast.  And my hands were on his chest, like I could push him away any minute, but I didn't.  I spread my palms flat and tried to feel his heartbeat.

It was racing.

- Page 176

My Review

Megan Miranda became one of my go-to authors last year with Fracture, her debut novel, so as soon as I heard about Hysteria, I knew I had to read this YA thriller.  Within the first few pages, I was captivated, and wanted to learn more about Mallory, and about what happened the night her boyfriend died.  Megan's ability to weave a fascinating story continues in Hysteria.  Once again, I didn't know who to trust, and couldn't figure out what, exactly, was happening until the last minute.  Everyone was a suspect - Mallory included. 

Not many authors could take an unreliable narrator like Mallory and make me care about her, but Megan Miranda did.    Throughout Hysteria, scattered flashbacks reveal what really happened the night Mallory's boyfriend died, but I wasn't sure which was more compelling - Mallory's past, or her present.  Starting over at a new school poses its own challenges; there's a boy, who might be a new chance at love, if Mallory is brave enough to take that chance.  I wanted to push her toward Reid, who was so patient, loyal, and understanding.  But I had to trust in Megan Miranda to let Mallory grow, slowly, but steadily, into someone who could trust herself again - which was incredibly difficult to believe would happen, with Mallory receiving ghostly nightmares, visions, and threats.  

Hysteria is a wild ride, but one I'm glad I took.  Only Megan Miranda could have told this type of story: a mystery, and a ghost story all rolled into one - with some swoon-worthy romance sprinkled in.  The characters are genuine, and I couldn't get enough of the macabre undertones to Hysteria.  It's a book I'll definitely purchase to add to my bookshelf!


Other books by this author:

Fracture
Vengeance (Fracture #2 | 2014, Walker Children's) 

You're sure to fall for:

Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock

About Megan

Megan Miranda was a scientist and high school teacher before writing Fracture, which came out of her fascination with scientific mysteries—especially those associated with the brain. Megan has a BS in biology from MIT and spent her post-college years either rocking a lab coat or reading books. She lives near Charlotte, North Carolina, where she volunteers as an MIT Educational Counselor. Fracture is her first novel.

Visit Megan at: her website | twitter 

Shop for Hysteria at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository 

Review: The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington

The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington
Publication: January 1, 2013 (Scholastic Point)
Source: ARC from the publisher
Rating: Beam-worthy

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A haunted house, a buried mystery, and a very angry ghost make this one unforgettable thriller.

Jade loves the house she's just moved into with her family. She doesn't even mind being the new girl at the high school: It's a fresh start, and there's that one guy with the dreamy blue eyes. . . . But then things begin happening. Strange, otherworldly things. Jade's little brother claims to see a glimmering girl in his room. Jade's jewelry gets moved around, as if by an invisible hand. Kids at school whisper behind her back like they know something she doesn't.

Soon, Jade must face an impossible fact: that her perfect house is haunted. Haunted by a ghost who's seeking not just vengeance, but the truth. The ghost of a girl who ruled Jade's school — until her untimely death last year. It's up to Jade to put the pieces together before her own life is at stake. As Jade investigates the mystery, she discovers that her new friends in town have more than a few deep, dark secrets. But is one of them a murderer?

My Review

Having never read anything by Kim Harrington before, I was very curious about what to expect when I read The Dead and Buried; awesomely enough, I found a concise, enjoyable writing style, and an author who knows how to tell a good, solid story.  Coupled with everyday characters who I was easily able to feel like I knew, a blush of romance, and a mystery I enjoyed, I have to say, The Dead and Buried was thoroughly enjoyable!

  
Featuring a likeable narrator, I easily connected with, The Dead and Buried is a fast read, although the pacing never felt hurried to me.  Kim Harrington developed her characters - major and minor - and really took time to let this ghost story find its stride.  Just when I got lulled into the story, something spooky would happen, which kept me a little on edge, but since I enjoy being scared, that's just fine with me.  I had a lot of fun getting to know Jade and her family, as well as her peers at her new school.  

I also enjoyed the romance.  Although there were two guys who featured prominently in The Dead and Buried, it was clear fairly quickly who Jade was interested in.  And I have to say, NO INSTALOVE.  Finally!  A book that, while hinting at an attraction between two characters, doesn't rush into them declaring their undying love on page 5.  Instead, Harrington had Jade and her love interest team up to figure out the haunting, which was a fantastic way of building their relationship, while we got to know him as a character.  Bravo!

The Dead and Buried kept me guessing until the end, partially because I didn't try to figure out what was going on, or who murdered Kayla, but also because Harrington wrote a good mystery!  I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick, light mystery.  


Other books by this author:

Clarity

You're sure to love:

Amber House by Kelly Moore 

About Kim

Kim Harrington is the author of the Clarity series for teens and the Sleuth or Dare series for kids. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and son. When not writing, she's most likely reading, watching one of her favorite TV shows, or fantasizing about her next vacation. Her first book, Clarity, received a starred review from Publisher's Weekly, was a 2012 ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, sold to nine countries, and was optioned for television by Warner Brothers.

Visit Kim at: her twitter | her website

Shop for The Dead and Buried at: Amazon |  Barnes & Noble

Review: Catherine by April Lindner

Catherine by April Lindner
Publication: January 2, 2013 (Poppy)
Source: ARC from the publisher
Rating: Beam-worthy

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A forbidden romance. A modern mystery. Wuthering Heights as you’ve never seen it before.

Catherine is tired of struggling musicians befriending her just so they can get a gig at her Dad’s famous Manhattan club, The Underground. Then she meets mysterious Hence, an unbelievably passionate and talented musician on the brink of success. As their relationship grows, both are swept away in a fiery romance. But when their love is tested by a cruel whim of fate, will pride keep them apart?

Chelsea has always believed that her mom died of a sudden illness, until she finds a letter her dad has kept from her for years—a letter from her mom, Catherine, who didn’t die: She disappeared. Driven by unanswered questions, Chelsea sets out to look for her—starting with the return address on the letter: The Underground.

Told in two voices, twenty years apart, Catherine interweaves a timeless forbidden romance with a compelling modern mystery.

My Review

Catherine was on my radar from the moment I read the synopsis, but I'm of two minds after finishing it.  On one hand, since I knew it was a modern day re-telling of Wuthering Heights, I expected it to be tragic, but I found so little hope within the pages that I was left bereft as I read the final pages.  April Lindner has a genuinely clear writing style that I enjoyed, but there were very few uplifting moments in this romantic tragedy.  That, along with a few other quibbles I had, made it an overall enjoyable read, but one that could have used a dose of hope.

I should state that I haven't read Wuthering Heights; while I've always wanted to, I haven't made time.  After reading Catherine, I'm really curious to do so though, to examine the similarities and the differences, as well.  I think for the most part, Lindner created individualized, interesting characters, but a few, like Quentin, suffered from stereotypes, and their flaws felt poorly handled.  Issues were brushed off in order to focus on the star-crossed romance between Catherine and Hence, which, although it was intensely passionate, was also not as believable as I'd hoped.  Miscommunications and distrust between the two that should have been solved instead escalated the story, and the stakes.  Both characters were deeply flawed, and made poor decisions. 

Catherine has nice pacing, and the tension in the first half of the book is built nicely, although it suffers in the last third of the book, with a rushed climax. I found myself caring more about Chelsea than about Catherine, and wish Lindner had devoted another few chapters toward the end to Chelsea - she felt less like a valid character and more like a device used to tell her mother's story.  Overall, this is a somewhat satisfying modern day Gothic. 

Other books by this author:

Jane

You're sure to fall for:

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

About April

Welcome to my web page.  I'm the author of Jane, a contemporary retelling of the classic novel Jane Eyre, published by Poppy, and of Catherine, a Wuthering Heights retelling, due out in early 2013.  I'm also a poet.  My new poetry collection, This Bed Our Bodies Shaped, was just published by Able Muse Press, and my first collection, Skin, will be coming back into print in early 2013.  I also write literary criticism and edit poetry anthologies.  Last but far from least, I'm a professor of English at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia.

Visit April at: her website | her blog

Shop for Catherine at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Review: Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
Published: September 11, 2012
Source: ARC from the publisher
Rating: Squee-worthy
Add it/Purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Connect with the author: | Website | Tumblr

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Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

My Review

Unspoken was one of those books that, once it hit my geeky radar, it never disappeared, and I never stopped anticipating it.  I'm a fan of Gothic novels, as well as romances, and Unspoken is a delightfully twisty mixture of both.  Filled with Sarah Rees Brennan's trademark snappy humor, as well as a well-rounded cast of characters that I loved getting to know, I sped through this book and had to force myself to savor the pages, since I didn't want it to end!

Somewhere between laughing at the one-liners in Unspoken, and marveling at the seamlessly unfolding plot, I fell in love with most of the main characters, including Kami, Jared, Holly, and Angela.  Each of the characters contributed to story, and I cannot imagine Brennan's books without any of them.  From Kami's tenaciousness, to Holly's huge heart, to Angela's snark, I loved them all.  They all felt realistic, and not overdone or romanticized for the sake of the story.  

By far my favorite aspect of Unspoken was the plot.   I wanted to sink into the gloomy, seductive atmosphere.  All the hallmarks of a terrific Gothic novel were there: the sinister ancestral home, the spooky, majestic family, the hint of dark, family secrets.  Add a plucky heroine to all that, who loves mysteries, and I could barely stop reading this book.  The murmurings of magic and myths were cleverly done - Sarah Rees Brennan revealed just enough to have me asking questions and demanding to know more!

And no review of Unspoken would be complete, or ever do this story justice, without mentioning the romance.  Finally, a YA novel without insta-love!  In fact, romance isn't even a huge part of the story, which made me applaud.  What insinuations were there, were done beautifully, leaving me with an aching heart.  Brennan is a bold author, who gives readers what they need, which doesn't always line up with what they want.

Bottom line: get this one.  You won't regret it.  There's enough humor, mystery, romance, and sinister happenings to keep any reader up late at night to finish it.

Bonus: Want my ARC?  (Since the rumor is that the cover is changing soon, this is a limited deal!)  Just leave a comment with YOUR favorite Gothic/scary novel, and I'll choose a random winner.  Open US/Canada!)

Other Books by This Author:

The Demon's Lexicon

You're sure to fall for:

The Diviners by Libba Bray

Review: Ripper by Amy Carol Reeves

Ripper by Amy Carol Reeves
Pages: 340
Expected publication: April 8, 2012 (Flux)

Source: E-ARC from the publisher
Series or stand-alone: Planned series but no sequel announced
Rating: Beam-worthy
Further info/purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Find the author online: Website | Twitter


In 1888, following her mother's sudden death, seventeen-year-old Arabella Sharp goes to live with her grandmother in a posh London neighborhood. At her grandmother's request, Abbie volunteers at Whitechapel Hospital, where she discovers a passion for helping the unfortunate women and children there.

But within days, female patients begin turning up brutally murdered at the hands of Jack the Ripper. Even more horrifying, Abbie starts having strange visions that lead her straight to the Ripper's next massacres. As her apparent psychic connection with the twisted killer grows stronger, Abbie is drawn into a deadly mystery involving the murders, her mother's shadowed past, and a secret brotherhood of immortals—who'll stop at nothing to lure Abbie into its "humanitarian" aims.

  

My Review

Ripper plunges the reader into the midst of the story with the opening lines, sending protagonist Arabella "Abbie" Sharp chasing a pick-pocket who has lifted a brooch that belonged to her dead mother.  Although I inwardly shook my head at Abbie's reckless pursuit of the thief, I liked her immediately - her courage, her fierceness, and her heart.  Abbie made some rash decisions at times, but I never gave up on her; if anything, over the course of Ripper, I liked her more and more.  Her growth as a character was inspiring to read about. 

Amy Carol Reeves has a wonderfully clear writing style that made the action-packed Ripper quite easy to follow and to enjoy.   It's a fast-paced thrill ride full of nifty twists and turns that left me guessing as to what would happen next.  Readers who think they know the story of Jack the Ripper will find themselves proven wrong; Amy Carol Reeves has developed an alternate explanation for the murderer that plagued the streets of London, and the "who" and the "why" will shock readers, just as I was surprised. 

Throughout Ripper, I was pleasantly surprised and thrilled: by the plot, by the characters, and by the relationships.  I don't read that many historical novels, so I went into this one with a bit of trepidation, but Reeves won me over quickly with how genuine Ripper felt; despite the fearful note running through it, which the story relies heavily on, it still (to me) felt like I was reading a true historical novel, one with a lot of heart, and mystery.  There were a few plot points I saw coming and wish I had enjoyed more than I did, but overall the story was very gripping.  

I also really enjoyed some of the character interactions in Ripper.  William and Simon were both fascinating characters in their own rights, and I loved watching each of them with Abbie.  I was slightly disappointed in the direction their individual relationships took with her; I didn't feel like this novel needed to stray into love triangle territory, because to me, it was obvious from the beginning where Abbie's heart lay, though it took her longer to figure that out than it did me.  And Abbie's grandmother was a really enjoyable character; for all the importance she placed on appearances, it was clear she really did love Abbie, and that was nice to see.  

Ripper was a fabulous, quick read, and my few flaws (things like multiple typos) will likely be resolved before the finished copies are printed.  Overall I really enjoyed the story - I just didn't love it, or emotionally connect with it, like I wanted to, though that is certainly not Amy Carol Reeves's fault.  She's produced a great book that did leave me anxiously awaiting the sequel. 

Further Thoughts

Do you like historical novels?  Or do you prefer contemporary reads?  How do you feel about books like this one, that take place as a story inside a well-known historical event? 

Review: Slide by Jill Hathaway

Slide by Jill Hathaway
Expected publication: March 27, 2012 (Balzter + Bray)
Pages: 256
Series or stand-alone: Slide (1) 
Rating: Squee-worthy
Source: ARC from the publisher
Further info/purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Find the author online: Twitter | Website

Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered.

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body.

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane.

Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

My Review

 Author Jill Hathaway strikes a mesmerizing balance of mystery and poignant emotional turmoil with her debut offering, Slide.  The story of teenager Sylvia "Vee" Bell, Slide is a murder mystery on the surface, but it's also a story of a broken family trying to piece themselves back together, and it's that aspect that called strongly to me.  Vee's mother died five years before the story starts, and it's that loss that still haunts Vee, her sister, Mattie, and their father, who tells them he loves them in the only ways he can - through the elaborate meals he cooks for them.  Vee and Mattie are both studies in grief, though they both express it in different ways.  I liked Vee right away, but after reading Slide, part of the problem is that I didn't connect with Vee.  

That's not to say that Slide isn't a fantastic story.  Vee may be a diagnosed narcoleptic, but only she knows the truth about herself: when she passes out, she slips into the mind and body of whomever she's last had physical contact with.  All it takes it for the person she touches to be emotionally charged about something, and even them handing her a dollar or brushing against her is enough.  After she "slides" into the body of the person who murdered one of her sister's friends, Vee holds knowledge that no one else does: Sophie did not commit suicide like everyone else thinks. Someone killed her - and Vee's determined to find out who the killer is.  For the first time, she considers her ability not a curse, but a blessing - and a tool to solve the mystery of Sophie's death.  

I was completely engrossed in the mystery aspect of Slide; I will say that Jill Hathaway definitely had me guessing up until the last minute, even throwing in some rather clever red herrings to distract the reader from the identity of the real killer.  That portion of Slide was brilliantly done; however, there were other storylines to the book that I felt got a gloss-over treatment in order to focus (maybe too much) on the mystery playing out.  Vee's strained friendship with her best friend - and maybe love interest - Rollins was well done, and their relationship was my favorite part of Slide, but her blossoming romance with new boy in town Zane was mediocre at best, falling into the overdone "insta love" trap that too many authors step into, rather willingly or unknowingly.  I wanted so much to love them; instead, Zane's potential was badly wasted, and his and Vee's relationship - which goes from zero to sixty in a matter of a few days - felt forced and just tossed into Slide to give it more depth, an attempt that failed.  

Slide is a hard book for me to review - I adored some parts, and wanted to rip out others.  Most of the secondary characters were very sympathetic - I especially felt for Vee's father, once more was revealed about him.  I'll be anxious to learn more about him and about Mattie in the sequel, Imposter.   I did feel like sometimes the choices a few of the characters made didn't make sense, and I'd like to see growth out of Vee and a few others in the sequel/other books.  I also felt like Slide was WAY too short - at 245 pages, I felt like I had barely gotten to know the characters before the book was over, and instead of taking a chance and leaving a few things dangling, Jill Hathaway did what so many authors do, and tried to tie everything up a bit too neatly at the end.  I wish more authors weren't afraid of not a cliffhanger ending per se, but just not having to have every plot arc wrapped into a pretty package as the book ends.  

Overall, Slide is a fun murder mystery that will keep readers guessing, but could have used more depth in a few areas in order to achieve a better balance.  The sequel, Imposter will be out either approximately early next year, and I will read it because even if she's a tough nut to crack, Vee Bell is a fascinating character, and I think this series has a lot of potential. 

Note: A special thanks goes out to the Debut Author Challenge ARC Tours for allowing me to participate in this tour!  

Further Thoughts

What's your take on YA murder mysteries?  Have you read Slide, or will you?   Do you get drawn in to the family aspect of contemporary novels, or could you take it or leave it so to speak?